AN-Thanks a bunch for the great reviews! I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story so far. Well, here's Chapter 3! I hope it lives up to you expectations!


I woke up the next morning to find that, not surprisingly, Jesse was gone. But then what had I expected? To wake up to his smiling face and strong arms wrapped around me like in those sappy romance novels Cee Cee likes to read?

Nope. Not my Jesse.

And I didn't care that technically, he wasn't "mine". I was just gonna call him that, and whoever disagreed could come and say it to my face.

I rolled over and smiled into my pillow, remembering the events of the past night. Jesse had been so sweet. After that beautiful kiss, he had actually climbed under the covers with me (seriously!). Nothing steamy, and he hadn't forced himself on me or anything like that. We had just kind of looked at one another for a while, laying next to each other. It was so peaceful.

And then his hand had brushed mine beneath the covers.

I had actually jumped, completely startled. I just hadn't expected it. As soon as I jumped, however, Jesse had smiled sheepishly and pulled his hand away.

I could have slapped myself.

Instead, I reached out, almost panicking for a second, and grabbed his hand. I held onto his hand like my life depended on it. Almost like…that was the moment where I could have lost him.

When I grabbed his hand, Jesse's face had shown nothing short of utter shock. I guess I must have grabbed his hand a little too…uh…eagerly. I realized my grip was way too tight, and loosened it, feeling my face start to heat up.

And then Jesse had smiled at me.

And there was something about that smile that was so sweet, I had to smile back. His fingers interlocked with mine, and there I was, in the greatest moment of my cursed life: in a bed, with the man that I loved, holding his hand, with him looking at me so…lovingly. And then Jesse did something that shocked the hell out of me. In this incredibly soft and gentle voice, he sang to me.

"Oh, Susannah, no don't you cry for me,
'Cause I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee."


My eyes started watering at this point.

"Me querida…yo te quiero, me querida…"

I had no idea what he had just said, but by the look in his eyes, I knew it was a profound statement.

I couldn't help what I did next. I practically flew into his arms, and sobbed (that's right - sobbed!) into his shoulder. "Oh, Jesse!" I said. And that was all I said.

I fell asleep like that, warm and cozy in Jesse's arms.

"Jesse…" I whispered into my pillow. "I love you…"

Gee, I could write an entire series of sappy novels for Cee Cee, couldn't I? Well, it's not so hard when you're in love with someone as perfect as Jesse. Well, perfect except for the fact that he's dead, of course.

"I'm leaving in fifteen minutes, whether you're ready or not, Suze!" I heard Sleepy shout from outside my bedroom.

"Dammit…" I muttered, stumbling out of bed. I completely forgot that today was the first day of school. Yippee. Hopefully this year I wouldn't run into any evil ghosts or psychotic killers.

Yeah, right.



It was hell on earth at school.

The hallways were packed with students trying to find their classes. Everyone's schedules seemed to be totally screwed up, including mine, which only had four periods on it, three of which were lunch. Well, there's California for you.

I managed to catch up with Cee Cee and Adam in the hallway after my third period English class (why would you put an Irish guy who can barely speak English to teach that class?). "Cee Cee! Adam!" I called out to them, squeezing in between two over-buffed football players. Cee Cee was the first to spot me.

"Hey, I've been looking for you all day! What class do you have next?"

I looked down at my schedule. "Lunch," I said grimly. "Never mind, though, I'll just follow you to your class."

Cee Cee looked at me disapprovingly. "You really need to get that schedule fixed."

"What for?" Adam said, peering over my shoulder at my schedule. "It looks just fine to me."

Cee Cee gave him a look that spelled death.

"I'll fix it after school," I said.

Cee Cee shrugged, and the three of us started walking towards Cee Cee's Algebra II class. "Hey!" Cee Cee said suddenly, "Did you see that new kid?"

"You mean that guy all the girls are crying over? Pu - lease," Adam said.

"Never mind him," Cee Cee said, turning back to me. "Suze…this guy was so, unbelievably, HOT. You have no idea. Kelly Prescott is calling him her next boyfriend. But Suze," she dropped her voice to and almost inaudible whisper, "he said he was looking for a Susannah Simon."

"Huh?" I said, slowing down so that some guys shoved me forward from behind. "Looking for me? Why?"

Cee Cee's eyes lit up. "I think he wants to go out with you."

But I didn't have time to reply to that statement. Because that was the moment that we turned the corner into Cee Cee's class, and I came face to face with the last person I ever wanted to see again.

Paul Slater.

And he was giving me that same creepy grin from my dream, except there wasn't any blood dripping or anything.

"Hey, Suze," he said lightly, as if we were old buddies.

"H - hi," I stammered, not knowing what to say. Cee Cee nudged me from behind. "Uh - um…" Cee Cee put her face in her hands. I felt myself starting to blush.

Paul's grin widened. I would have found it very sexy if his eyes weren't looking quite so malicious. "Cat got your tongue?"

I glared at him. I didn't realize that the entire class, which had been bustling moments before, had suddenly hushed. "What are you doing here?" I spat angrily. "Stalking me?"

Paul tsk-tsked, which only made me angrier. I was seriously about to break his nose. Oh, yeah, if only Jesse were here, this guy would be dead.

And then Jesse suddenly materialized behind Paul.

My surprised look must have clued in Paul, because his eyes narrowed. "Your friend here to rescue you?" he whispered so only I could hear. Behind him, Jesse was scowling. He must have realized who we were dealing with here.

"Don't you dare touch her," Jesse growled.

Paul only snickered.

Jesse looked like he was about to pull another WWF on me, but luckily, Mr. Snizzle chose that moment to walk into class. He looked at me and Paul and Cee Cee. Then he said, "Let's break this up and take our seats."

Cee Cee took me by the shoulders and directed me to two seats in the back. She had to use quite some force to move me along, since I was paralyzed with anger, still glaring at Paul, who was walking to an empty seat at the front of the room, still grinning.

"Don't worry, I'll come when you call me," Jesse whispered to me so Paul couldn't hear. He dematerialized.

As soon as Cee Cee and I were seated, she hissed at me, "What was all that about? Don't you realize that that hot guy wants to go out with you?"

"Cee Cee," I whispered back. "He's…he's not what you think." I risked a glance up at Paul. He was scribbling something quickly on a scrap of paper. Probably some evil plans to conquer the world. He finished, folded the note up, and passed it over. The note was passed through the line of desks separating us, until it got to me. Nobody was even listening to Mr. Snizzle's review of the Pythagorean Theorum. They were all curious about what was going on between me and Paul. I unfolded the letter, and read.

We need to meet after school. Don't worry, I'll find you.
Always a pleasure,
Paul
P.S. Don't be so afraid of me, Suze. I won't bite. Vampire's honor.


I folded the letter back up, completely stunned. What the hell…

Was he watching my dreams or something…?

"You could say that," a jeering voice whispered inside my head.

I sat up from my desk in shock. "Can I help you with something, Miss. Simon?" Mr. Snizzle droned in his monotonous voice.

"Uh -" I looked at Paul. He was the only one in the room not looking at me, and I could tell he had a big grin on his face. "No - I'm okay…"

"Then I suggest you take a seat now." Mr. Snizzle, annoyed, went back to teaching.

Cee Cee looked at me with concern. "Suze, what's wrong with you? Are you okay?"

"Y - yeah…" I muttered. I looked down and noticed my hands were trembling. That was because I was officially freaked out.

Inside my head, the voice persisted. "You're confused now. And you're afraid. Don't be afraid of me. There's so much I could teach you…"

"Get out of my head…" Alright, I'll admit it: I was terrified. I had never encountered anything like this before.

"No, Suze, you don't want me out of your head…"

"What are you?"

"I am the heir to the Dark Throne…"

"What do you mean…what are you talking about?"

"And you are my queen Susannah…"

"Go away…"

"You could have so much more with me than with that Jesse…he is nothing compared to me…"

"He is more than you'll ever be, you freak!!!"

"Suze!" I heard Cee Cee exclaim. Some other people gasped audibly. Mr. Snizzle looked at me in shock, his jaw hanging open. My eyes snapped open. I looked around the room, confused and paranoid. Then I looked at Paul. His eyes were closed, and his nails were digging into the wood of his desk. He was twitching somewhat. As if he noticed me looking at him, he snapped out of his trance and flashed me a smile.

That's it. I had to see Father Dom about this.

I picked up my book bag, and without a backward glance, I left the room. Nobody stopped me.

I walked briskly down the hall towards Father Dom's office. That was way weird. Paul was actually inside my head, talking to me…telepathically. And I was talking back! Without even opening my mouth! Now that I really thought about it, I realized that I had been in a trance just like Paul. I had snapped out of it when I had, in my rage, involuntarily shouted my last statement out loud instead of "telepathically".

I reached Father Dom's office, and took a deep breath before opening the door.

Well, there goes my normal school year.


AN-Hope you guys liked it! Please review!!! I would like to dedicate this story to my good friend Amanda, AKA Carrie Bradshaw (I won't mention your other name - I don't want to spoil your shameless self-promotion!), who got me addicted to the Mediator series. Thank you!!!